Foreign investors hold 50 million hectares of Australian farmland

Foreign investors held registered interests in 50.262 million hectares of Australian agricultural land at 30 June 2025, according to new data tabled in Federal Parliament.

According to The 2024–25 annual report of the Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian Assets, foreign investors held interests in 13 per cent of the nation’s agricultural land.

The total area increased from 49.120 million hectares a year earlier, continuing a gradual rise in foreign-held agricultural land across Australia.

Queensland recorded the largest area with a level of foreign ownership, at 17.067 million hectares, followed by the Northern Territory with 14.752 million hectares and Western Australia with 11.513 million hectares.

South Australia recorded 3.216 million hectares, NSW and the ACT 2.658 million hectares, Victoria 694,000 hectares and Tasmania 362,000 hectares.

The proportion of agricultural land with a level of foreign ownership varies significantly across the states and territories.

The Northern Territory has the highest share at 27.8 per cent, followed by Tasmania at 24.1 per cent.

Western Australia sits at 13.3 per cent, Queensland at 12.7 per cent and South Australia at 7 per cent, while Victoria recorded 6.1 per cent and NSW/ACT 4.9 per cent.

By land use, livestock operations dominate foreign-held agricultural land, accounting for 43.742 million hectares of the registered total.

Cropping land represents 3.398 million hectares, while forestry accounts for 1.503 million hectares.

Smaller areas are used for intensive horticulture (184,000 hectares), other farming uses (658,000 hectares) and non-farming purposes (760,000 hectares).

The data also shows foreign investors from 73 countries held interests in Australian agricultural land, with the United Kingdom the largest holder at 7.664 million hectares, followed by China with 6.537 million hectares and Canada with 4.928 million hectares.

Central Queensland ‘beef powerhouse’ set to fetch more than $73 million

Size: 17,479ha

Location: Rolleston, QLD

Sale method: EOI closing April 10 at 1pm (AEST)

Price guide: More than $73 million

A major Central Queensland grazing aggregation described as a “standout high-performance” operation has been brought to market, with Rural Funds Management (RFM) listing the 17,479ha Rewan holding via an expressions of interest campaign.

Located near Rolleston in the tightly held Central Highlands region, Rewan is being marketed by Veivers Property Principal Grant Veivers, who said the scale, development and productivity of the asset set it apart in a competitive market.

“Rewan is an integrated beef powerhouse, combining large-scale backgrounding capacity with extensive dryland cultivation, improved pastures and established Leucaena to drive exceptional productivity,” Mr Veivers said.

Mr Veivers was unable to provide a price guide, however RFM’s website indicates the property was last valued at about $73 million in 2024.

The blue-chip aggregation comprises 14,323ha of freehold land and a further 3,156ha of rolling term state forest lease, supporting a proven carrying capacity of about 8,500 adult equivalents.

Rewan has been extensively developed to support large-scale cattle production, with more than 2,600ha of dryland cultivation, 633ha of grazing leucaena and more than 8,700ha of improved pastures.

Premium pasture species including buffel, Rhodes, green panic and stylos underpin the operation, contributing to consistent feed supply and strong performance.

A key drawcard for prospective buyers is the region’s reliable climate and rainfall profile, which underpins pasture growth and long-term productivity.

“At Rewan, located east of the Carnarvon Gorge, the area benefits from a long-term average annual rainfall of approximately 825 mm,” Mr Veivers said.

“This consistent moisture profile, combined with the region’s warm temperatures and fertile land types, underpins its reputation as one of Queensland’s most productive cattle and grazing districts.”

Water security is another defining feature of the asset, with a well-developed and efficient system in place.

The property is supported by nine sub-artesian bores, complemented by header tanks, troughs and a network of dams, along with natural watercourses running through the holding.

Operational improvements are extensive, including multiple residences, machinery sheds, workshops and significant cattle handling infrastructure.

An approved 1,000 SCU feedlot, currently developed to around 500 SCU, further enhances the property’s productivity and flexibility.

Strategically positioned about 55km south of Rolleston and 170km north of Roma, Rewan benefits from all-weather bitumen access via Rewan Road, providing strong connectivity to key regional centres.

The property is for sale via EOI closing April 10 at 1pm (AEST).

Argentinian-backed buyer expands NT footprint with $44 million Aroona Station deal

Size: 147,510ha

Location: Delamere, NT

Sale price: $44 million

A major Northern Territory cattle station has changed hands, with Aroona Station selling for $44 million to a South American-backed agricultural group, further expanding its footprint in Australia’s north.

Property records confirm the 147,510ha station, located about 90km south-west of Katherine in the Upper Victoria River District, was acquired by Cross Pacific Investments on March 10.

The company is backed by the Argentinian Buratovich family, which operates extensive broadacre cropping enterprises across South America and the United States.

The transaction is understood to include land, fixed improvements, equipment and an estimated 15,000 head of cattle.

Listed by Colliers in 2024, National Director Transaction Services/Agribusiness, Jesse Manuel, said at the time that the station had been significantly upgraded, including fencing, yards, building and water systems.

“Aroona Station enjoys proximity to key infrastructure assets within the live export supply chain and has its main loading yards and homestead situated only 7km off the Victoria Highway,” he said.

“Aroona Station is a tremendous breeding and backgrounding property and would also fit neatly into a larger supply chain operation as a value-add depot asset for young cattle.”

The station becomes the fifth Northern Territory asset secured by the Buratovich family, taking its total landholding in the region to roughly 756,000ha.

Previous acquisitions include Scott Creek, Manbulloo and Sturt Downs, purchased in 2019 for a combined $43 million, followed by Stapleton Station in 2021 for about $7.3 million.

The aggregation reflects a broader expansion strategy by the family, whose agricultural operations span more than a century and include the production of wheat, barley, peas, lentils, sorghum and cotton across multiple international markets.

Aroona is regarded as a well-developed breeder property, benefitting from an average annual rainfall of about 900mm and extensive natural water resources, including the Flora River and Mathison Creek.

The country comprises gently undulating flats, floodplains and basalt rises, supporting large-scale cattle operations.

The station was most recently held by the South Australian-based DiGiorgio family, which purchased the asset in 2021 for $22.75 million.

Prior to that, it was owned by Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting, which acquired the property in 2017 for $13.5 million and invested more than $3 million into improvements.

A land clearing permit for nearly 4,000ha was approved in late 2023, further enhancing the property’s development potential.

Kylie Dulhunty is a journalist with more than 20 years experience covering everything from court to health. Today, Kylie loves nothing more than turning market trends, industry insights and epic property sales - residential, rural and commercial - into captivating stories.